HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 3: SENIOR YEAR
US, 2008, 108 minutes, Colour.
Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens.
Directed by Kenny Ortega.
At this high school they don't seem to do many school room subjects. They play basketball and are cheerleaders (and win against all the odds). They spend a lot of time in rehearsal for the 'musicale' to celebrate graduation. They sing a lot and do some dancing. But, that is what has touched the teenage audiences of the US ($42 million on opening weekend) and of the rest of the world (one North London complex had it on five screens during the day with 13 sessions each day in the complex). And then there is Zac Efron who at twenty finds himself a worldwide hearththrob. And there is Vanessa Hudgens who is popular as well but this is a film that is popular with girls and so the attention is on Zac.
What began as a pleasant movie for the Disney Channel surprised the powers that be with its popularity. A second television movie was commissioned and did very well. Then it was adapted for the stage with tours all over the US and elsewhere. This has led to the present sequel which was made for cinemas rather than television. And the young and the very young are flocking to see it. It is G rated.
As a film, it is pleasantly ordinary for adults in a tolerant mood. It's the show must go on. It's final year and the prospects of college. It's teenagers behaving wholesomely. It's teenagers having difficulties with their parents' expectations and their feeling the need for some independent choices.
Troy and Gabriella have become important for the High School Musical audiences. Sharpay, who is really a nasty piece of work embodying all the hiss characteristics of the villain, becomes nicer at the end of each film – but relapses for the next one. Her twin, Ryan, is still doing choreography. And the bespectacled composer is still churning out the tunes. A nice touch is that Julliard is offering college scholarships so there is an incentive for potential candidates.
It's all rather old-fashioned in a contemporary way – and an unexpected series phenomenon.
1.The popularity of the High School Musical films? Stage performances around the world? The characters, the school, the music, sport, relationships, family? The wholesome tone?
2.The Alberqurque settings, the school and its interiors, sports arena, the theatre? The University of Stanford campus?
3.The musical score, the range of songs, as expressing the characters, situations, the groups?
4.The basketball opening, the team losing, the cheerleaders, the verve, in the locker room, the coach, Troy and his urging the team on, Chad and his collaboration? The support, the final basket and the awkward young man coming in and winning the game? Troy and his generosity? Chad and Troy and the expectations that they would have basketball scholarships in Alberqurque?
5.Senior year, the absence of classes in the film, the focus on theatre? The students saying they were busy? Gabriella and her influence, Sharpay and her presence, self-centred? Ryan and his choreography? The composer and her music? Troy and his being the hero, getting everyone involved? The personality of the school theatre director, her interest, the rehearsals, her putting in the applications to Juilliard College?
6.Juilliard, its reputation, the applications? Troy and his father confronting him about it? The composer and her opportunities? Ryan and his choreography? Sharpay wanting to win? The representatives coming to the performance, their allotting the two scholarships?
7.Sharpay, in the previous films, the English girl as her understudy, servant, the takeover by the English girl, the rivalry? Sharpay ousting her?
8.Sharpay and her personality, narcissistic, attitude towards Ryan, stealing Gabriella’s songs, her preening herself, the performance, her giving the gossip to Troy, the rivalry, the ending and her being agreeable?
9.Ryan, choreography, personality, winning the scholarship?
10.The composer, her versatility, getting the scholarship?
11.Chad, his friendship with Taylor, the build-up to asking her to the prom, the prom performance?
12.Gabriella, her mother, Stanford? Sharpay and the gossip? Troy, self-sacrifice, Gabriella going to Stanford, wanting to stay? Troy driving there, the dance, the return, intervening in the performance just in time? The solution for Troy to go to Berkeley, studying sport and theatre and near to Stanford?
13.Troy as the hero, his family, sport, friendship with Chad, his father’s influence? Love for Gabriella, letting her go, dancing and singing with her? The solution and the happy ending?
14.The reason for the film’s and stage performance’s popularity, wholesome – US 2008?
